Experts offer advice on how to talk to kids about the Tumbler Ridge shooting

Parents across Canada are grappling with how to talk to their kids about the horrific mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge this week.

Parents across British Columbia and Canada are being encouraged to talk to their children about the Tumbler Ridge shooting, and to keep those conversations simple, honest and relaxed.

Lauren Wagner, a registered clinical counsellor with the Trauma Therapy Group in Vancouver, said students are likely already discussing what happened at school and online.

“I would approach my kids and say, you know, ‘What have you heard?’” Wagner said.

She suggested this allows parents to see how their children are doing, and correct misinformation.

During an interview Thursday on CTV’s Your Morning Vancouver, a grief and bereavement expert said children process traumatic events differently than adults, but are still strongly affected.

“Children are intuitive, and so they’re going to know if things are hidden or things are glossed over,” said Dr. Heather Mohan.

“You want to kind of gently open those conversations with a lot of compassion,” she added.

Some kids might be frightened by the events, and experts advise parents acknowledge that fear, and answer any questions the child might have.

“However, at the same time, if you don’t know, say, ‘I don’t know, maybe we can look at this together,’” Wagner advised.

She also told CTV News that parents should watch for signs a child may be struggling.

Those could include being withdrawn, having nightmares or anxiety. Parents who observe such signs should consider counselling, if needed.